Post-Resurrection Appearances of Jesus – The Appearance to Simon Peter

April 9, 2021 (Friday)

“They got up at once and went back to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven disciples gathered together with the others and saying, ‘The Lord is risen indeed! He has appeared to Simon!’ The two then explained to them what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized the Lord when he broke the bread” (Luke 24:33-35).

The two on the road to Emmaus went directly the eleven remaining disciples with this message: “The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.” The Jamison, Faucett and Brown Commentary has this to say about their report that Jesus had appeared to Simon Peter:

“Most touching and precious intelligence this. The only one of the Eleven to whom He appeared alone was he, it seems, who had so shamefully denied Him. What passed at that interview we shall never know here. Probably it was too sacred for disclosure.”

The Matthew Henry Commentary has this to say about the reported meeting of Jesus and Peter:

“That Peter had a sight of him before the rest of the disciples is reported in 1 Cor 15:5 , where it is said, ‘He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve.’ The angel having ordered the women to tell Peter of it particularly (Mk. 16:7 ), for his comfort, it is highly probable that our Lord Jesus did himself presently the same day appear to Peter, though we have no particular narrative of it, to confirm the word of his messengers. This he had related to his brethren; but, observe, Peter does not here proclaim it, and boast of it, himself (he thought this did not become a penitent), but the other disciples speak of it with exultation, The Lord is risen indeed, ‘ontos—really;’ it is now past dispute, no room is left to doubt it, for he has appeared not only to the women, but to Simon.

The encouragement for us in Jesus’ appearance to Simon Peter, who was tortured by fresh memories of denying the Lord three times is clear. When we have slipped and fallen, let us confess our sins and we will find that He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. May we be as fortunate as Peter who had brothers and sisters in Christ who rejoiced with him that he had seen the risen Christ rather than condemn him for his denials that he was Christ’s follower before the crucifixion. After all, they had heard Jesus predict Peter’s denials. And so it happened and when Peter realized what he had done, he went out into the wilderness and wept bitterly. May we learn to love and forgive like Jesus.